Tag Archives: europe

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

Oil & Gas Prices: Egyptian pipeline blown up again, Natural Gas Glut results in 10 years low prices, U.S. investigates European oil companies in Libya, Iran reduces oil exports

According to Azerbaijani media, Iran’s Oil Ministry is confirming that their oil exports are dropping due to Western oil sanctions.

Iranian oil officials say Japan has made the biggest cut in oil purchases, despite recently getting an exemption from the United States.  Japan cut Iranian oil imports by 28% from January to April 2012.

However, Iran’s oil exports have also gone down due to their own oil embargo of the European Union.  The EU’s own oil sanctions go into effect on July 1.

Speaking of Japan, Tokyo Electric, the operator of the nuclear disaster reactors at Fukushima Daiichi, has been using oil to generate electricity, a lot more oil.

TEPCo reported that in March 2012 they used four times the amount of oil than in March 2011.  They also used the most natural gas since August 2011, and August was a record for gas use by TEPCo; 2.079 million tons.

Regarding natural gas, the United States is so full of it, that there is no where left to store the stuff.  Underground salt caverns, depleted oil fields and aquifers are being used but even they are rapidly filling.

The result is that drilling and pumping of the LNG will have to stop, natural gas prices are at ten year lows (we consumers like that).  Maybe this will mean an end to fracking and man made earthquakes?

But that might be bad news for places like Williamsport, Pennsylvania.  The town has seen an economic boom; their tax revenues have gone up more than 10% between 2006 and 2010, and 115 new business in and around Lycoming County have been created.

In Egypt, ever since the January 2011 Revolution their gas pipeline to Israel and Jordan keeps getting blown up.  April 9, 2012, it got blown up again, for the 14th time since the Revolution.

In Libya, U.S. officials are investigating oil deals made with Italy’s Eni, and France’s Total.  The companies are being investigated for their connections to Muammar Gaddafi.

Eni officials said certain payments made to Gaddafi might have violated the U.S. Foreign Corruption Practice Act.  The U.S. is helping the new Libyan government investigate many oil companies, and could result in huge fines being levied in favor of the new government.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Government/Corporate Evil & Class Warfare: 12 Myths of Western Capitalist “Democracy”, if you’re a commoner your chances of success are as good as playing the lottery!

The following quotes were published on 7 January 2012, by Portuguese economist Guilherme Alves Coelho.

Myth 1: Under capitalism, anyone who works hard can become rich.

“In fact, the probability of success in the capitalist system for the average citizen is the same as you winning the lottery.”

Myth 2: Capitalism creates wealth and prosperity for all.

“The objective is to enable the employer to accumulate indefinite wealth without being asked how they did it. At the same time the hope is maintained that sooner or later workers will be rewarded for their work and dedication.” 

Myth 3: We are all in the same boat.

“The goal is to create a guilt complex for workers, allowing capitalists to increase revenues and pass their expenses onto the people.”

This is similar to Mitt Romney style vulture capitalism, in which “investors” like Romney used other people’s money to make profits.

Myth 4: Capitalism means freedom.

“The goal is to create something similar to a religion of capitalism, where everything is taken as blind faith, and deny people the right to participate in making macroeconomic decisions. The myth of the freedom to “negotiate” for your job being considered the ultimate freedom.”

Myth 5: Capitalism means democracy.

“This myth, which smoothly follows from the previous one, was created in order to prevent the discussion of other models of societies.”

Myth 6: Elections equal democracy.

“It’s actually the capitalist system, that manipulates and corrupts everything, that the vote is conditioned and elections are merely formal acts.  The simple fact of the bourgeois class minority always winning elections demonstrates it’s non-representative.”

Don’t forget, one of the main reason for the 1776 Revolution that created the United States was no representation in the British government!

Myth 7: Alternating parties in office is the same as having an alternative.

“It is intended to make people believe that the political parties that alternate periodically in power have alternative policies.  In fact this apparent multi-system or bi-partisan is a one-party system. Two or more factions of the same political organization, sharing the same capitalist policies alternate in power, simulating independent parties with alternative policies.”

Another way to say this is the Democrats and Republicans are two sides of the same coin.

Myth 8: The elected politician represents the people and can therefore decide for them.

“…once in power, the elected…Does not fulfill what he promised and what is even worse, put in place measures that were not talked about publicly before, often opposite what was promised and even unconstitutional.” 

“…being a major cause of the growing number of people who do not vote.”

Myth 9: There is no alternative to Capitalism.

“It is intended to make people believe that capitalism, though not perfect, is the only political/economic regime possible…The aim is to eliminate competition from other systems…using all means, including force…”

This is ironic considering the masses are always told that capitalism is about competition, or that competition is good.

Myth 10: Austerity cuts (severe and enforced economic deprivations) will save the economy and your job.

“It is intended to make people believe that the blame for the economic crisis is caused by the excess of benefits for workers….The aim is basically to transfer to the public, people in general and for workers specifically, the responsibility of paying the debts of the capitalists. Make people accept the plundering of their property in the belief that better days will come later. It is also intended to facilitate the privatization of public/government services….without mentioning that these were the most profitable sectors of the state, whose future earnings are lost as a result.”

Myth 11: Less government equals better government.

“It is intended to make people believe that the private sector manages the state better than the public sector.  The actual goal of capitalists is…to facilitate the takeover of functions and assets of profitable government operations.”

This is exactly what is going on with the U.S. Postal Service.  The USPS is not in trouble because they’re not making money, they’re in trouble because the U.S. Congress refuses to hand over the money the USPS has made from selling postal services (the money earned is actually controlled by Congress).  Remember the U.S. Congress is controlled by Corporate America.

Myth 12: The current crisis of Capitalism is short-term and will be resolved for the benefit of the people.

“It is intended to make people believe that the current economic and financial crisis is a normal cyclical crisis of capitalism, and not a systemic/intentional crisis.  The aim of the capitalists…is continuing to plunder and exploit the people while they can. It has also served for some politicians to remain in power, fueling hope among people that better days will come if they continue to vote for them…..what we see is the continuous deterioration of living standards of people without any hope of improvement.”

Guilherme Alves Coelho also warned that as Western style “democratic” capitalism continues to fail, the capitalist elites will force the working class to make more and more sacrifices.  Proof of this are the continuing and increasing austerity measures implemented by Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal and United Kingdom, to name a few.  The austerity cuts have been taking place in the various states of the United States since 1999/2000, but they’re not called austerity, they’re called “reforms”, “improvements” and “cutting costs” supposedly to save taxpayer dollars (have they really saved taxpayers any money?).

This is clearly class warfare already being waged by the elites against the rest of us.  Coelho says we the People need to prepare for the final battle: “Today, more than ever, you need to create barriers to the final round of capitalist barbarism, reverse the situation, by presenting other political solutions, refusing the obscure statements of the elites by demanding clarification, and mobilizing and organizing the people.”

 

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

Oil & Gas Prices: China outproducing Exxon Mobil, North Sea major gas leak, Sudan bombs oil rich South Sudan, Iraqi Kurds stop oil shipments, Canada will stop selling cheap oil to the U.S.!

French oil company Total, could lose $2.5 million USD per day due to its North Sea oil rig leak.

The Elgin ocean rig, near Scotland, began leaking natural gas eight days ago.  It’s coming from a well that workers were trying to cap.  The situation in the North Sea now, is similar to the 2010 BP Gulf of Mexico blow out.

Workers were evacuated for fear of a huge explosion. There are now reports of “oily sheen” on the ocean’s surface.

According to the North African country of South Sudan, their neighbor Sudan is bombing their oil rich areas, in order to drive off investors from the United States.

Officials from Sudan deny that they are specifically targeting oil wells, but U.S. President Barack Obama asked both sides to avoid targeting oil resources.  The U.S. supported the creation of the new country of South Sudan.

The Kurdish autonomous government in northern Iraq, have stopped oil shipments.  Kurdish officials say the Iraqi government has not made any of the payments promised for past oil shipments.

Iraqi officials responded by stating that the Kurds have not sent all the oil that was promised. However, a payment of $560 million USD is being reviewed.

Iraqi officials also say they have reason to believe the Kurds are illegally selling oil to neighboring Middle Eastern countries.  However, despite such claims of loss from Iraqi Kurdistan, Iraqi oil exports hit 2.13 million barrels per day in March.

The world’s biggest oil producer is no longer Exxon Mobil.  PetroChina is now the number one producer of petroleum oil.

According to Bloomberg, PetroChina is now producing a little more than 2.4 million barrels per day of oil.  Chinese officials say the petroleum company will actually increase its take over of other oil companies around the world, because China’s industries need the oil.

“Look, the very fact that a ‘no’ [a no on Keystone] could even be said underscores to our country that we must diversify our energy export markets. We cannot be, as a country, in a situation where our one and, in many cases, only energy partner could say no to our energy products. We just cannot be in that position.”-Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada

Canada has been selling its oil to the United States by at least half the going rate, but Canadian officials say that can’t continue, even if U.S. officials approve the Keystone XL pipeline. Canada will eventually jack up the price for U.S. customers.

“We have taken a significant price hit by virtue of the fact that we are a captive supplier and that just does not make sense in terms of the broader interests of the Canadian economy…”-Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada

 

 

 

 

 

Business/Economics, International

What Economic Recovery? European Unemployment Up, Spain hit hardest

April 2, 2012, the European Union reported that unemployment is still high.  It’s the 8th straight month of increasing unemployment for the EU.

Portugal’s unemployment is now at 15%, with Italy at 9.3%.

Spain is hardest hit, with 23.6% officially unemployed.  Young workers under 25 years of age are suffering the most.  Spain’s youth unemployment rate is at 50.5%, which means that one out of every two youth are out of work!

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Corporate Evil & What Economic Recovery? U.S. Alcoa to close factories worlwide, thousands of people to lose jobs. It’s all because Alcoa wants higher Aluminum prices

March 27, 2012, Sardinian workers are protesting the planned closing of Alcoa’s Portovesme aluminum smelter on the island of Sardinia.  The move could cost Italy the loss of at least 1,500 jobs.

U.S. media last reported that U.S. based Alcoa was making a deal with union workers to keep the factory open, however, European media says that ain’t so.

In fact three potential investors are now suing Alcoa.  The Italian government has been demanding Alcoa keep their factory open.  The Spanish government is also upset because Aloca has plans to reduce smelter operations there.

This is evidence that Corporate America is partly to blame for the continuing economic disaster in Europe!  But it’s not just Europeans losing their jobs, Alcoa is hitting Australians as well.

In Geelong, Australia, Alcoa says it’s closing down operations there, because it doesn’t want to pay its electricity bill!  Alcoa wants a deal from the Australian government, and utility suppliers, in order to keep its Point Henry smelter open.

Alcoa also blames the pending closing of their Australian smelter on the need for $100 million AUD (Australian Dollars) to upgrade the smelter to meet environmental regulations.  600 people could lose their jobs.

But the real reason for the closings of all these Aloca operations worldwide, is that the price of aluminum is not high enough for Alcoa executives.

Recently Alcoa officials said the recent drop in aluminum prices “…will result in a global aluminum industry deficit of 600,000 metric tons in 2012.” Why would that be?  Because the aluminum industry will cut back production until aluminum prices go back up. That means closing down factories, creating thousands more unemployed people.

Interestingly, despite aluminum prices being low, on March 1, 2012, Alcoa announced they were actually raising prices (by 5%) on some of their aluminum products!

International, U.S.

World War 3: Libyan Rebel leader says Western Powers wanted Gaddafi killed, because of his knowledge of the evil secrets of Europe & United States

“There are just too many parties who have real interests that Gaddafi doesn’t talk, that he should be silenced forever.”-Mahmoud Jibril, former Interim Prime Minister Libyan NTC

In an exclusive interview with Russia Today, Jibril said Gaddafi was not killed under NTC orders, they wanted him alive. He says it was Western Powers (United States and European Union) that wanted him dead.

Jibril even said: “I would love to know who was behind [Gaddafi’s] killing.”

Those who killed Gaddafi even used their cell phones to record video of their torture and finally killing of Gaddafi.  It was obviously meant to send a message (as was the cell phone video of Saddam Hussein’s ridicule before he was executed).

Jibril says the proof that the war in Libya was not about oil, but about killing Gaddafi, is the fact that Europe was getting oil while Gaddafi was in power. This is backed up by Jibril’s belief that Western Powers suddenly ignored Libya once Gaddafi was killed: “What I am saying is that after the regime fell down [Gaddafi killed] most of the Western countries felt that ‘mission has been accomplished’…we need the help to re-establish our national army…to re-establish our police…and prepare the country for elections…unfortunately the kind of assistance provided by our potential friends…are not a priority for the time being.”

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Oil & Gas Prices: More Hypocrisy; the U.S. exempts EU & Japan from Iran oil sanctions

In a move that is hypocritical, the United States has exempted 10 European Union countries, and Japan, from U.S. imposed Iran oil sanctions.

It also brings up the question: What was the point?

I already showed how, under the Bush jr administration, U.S. corporations were exempted from future sanctions against Iran, back in 2000!

The countries now granted exemptions from the U.S. oil sanctions are Belgium, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Japan.

Again: What was the point of the U.S. imposed sanctions against Iran, if the U.S. is going to grant exemptions to other countries, and, a Republican created law in 2000 already exempts U.S. corporations from having to obey any sanctions anyway?

International, U.S.

World War 3: Russia supports UN resolution on Syria, but only if….

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, said Russia will support a resolution on Syria proposed by Kofi Annan, but only if two conditions are met.

One: The details of the resolution are made public.

Two: That it is not an “Ultimatum”, but an on going process of dialog to “…end to violence on all sides…”

International, U.S.

World War 3: Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia orders destruction of all Christian Churches! Backlash for Herman Cain statements?

The Grand Mufti of U.S. petrodollar triad member Saudi Arabia, has ordered that all churches on the Arabian Peninsula must be destroyed!

This follows yesterday’s announcement by Said al-Shihri, a leader of the U.S. created al Qaeda, who ordered the killing of all Shi’a Muslims in Saudi Arabia!

Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, is the highest official of religious law in Saudi Arabia, as well as the head of the Supreme Council of Islamic Scholars.  He claims the Prophet Mohammed said the Arabian Peninsula can have only one religion.

The Grand Mufti’s declaration follows the announcement of a Kuwaiti politician, Osama al-Munawar, who said the Kuwaiti parliament will consider a law that will ban the construction of new Christian churches in Kuwait.

These calls for actions against Christians might be in retaliation for anti-Muslim statements made by U.S. leaders. Failed presidential candidate hopeful, Herman Cain, said he believed that U.S. Muslims were not protected by the Constitution: “They’re using the church part of our First Amendment to infuse their morals in that community, and the people of that community do not like it.”

Pat Buchanan told a radio host that the U.S. should find a way to ban the construction of new Mosques.

In 2009 Switzerland banned the building of Minarets.  In 2010 France banned the wearing of anything that covered your face, the law is actually directed towards Muslim women.

Basically, the Christian West started the whole thing!

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

Oil & Gas Prices: Iran cuts oil shipment to 4 more European countries! SWIFT retaliation? U.S. to sanction India

March 16, 2012, Iran’s Oil Ministry announced it will stop oil shipments to four more European Union members.

Back in February Iran stopped oil shipments to France and United Kingdom.  Iran had also named four other EU countries that could lose their Iranian oil shipments.

Iranian media reporting that Iran will now stop oil shipments to those other countries.  Those countries are Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.

I’ve heard that claim before, but this time it might be for real, and in retaliation for Iran’s exclusion from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT).

“It is a direct result of international and multilateral action to intensify financial sanctions against Iran.”-Lazaro Campos, CEO SWIFT

The SWIFT move will affect about 30 Iranian banks.

Washington DC insiders say it’s likely the United States will sanction India, for refusing to take part in the U.S. led oil sanctions against Iran: “Given the level of trade, and in particular oil, between Iran and India, targeting an Indian entity that facilitates Iran’s access to the international financial market should be top of mind for the U.S. Treasury.”-Avi Jorisch, former Treasury Department official

According to the International Energy Agency, India and South Korea have greatly increased the amount of oil they’re buying from Iran.  Japan and South Korea are demanding exemptions from the U.S. oil sanctions, because British Petroleum was able to be exempted. (I told you Obama does not have the support of the International Community, as he claims)